Family Ties

Yesterday was my birthday extravaganza. Yahoooo!

First stop was the Gurnee Antique Center. They were having a great spring sale, and the place was packed. I picked up a nice Texas Ware confetti mixing bowl and some other goodies. I love the new mixing bowl because it is such a pretty aqua confetti color. 


Second stop was Hauserman's Orchids. It is a HUGE orchid farm in Illinois. Orchid farm in IL?! Yeah. Weird, but too cool. The sweet hubbys moms-cousins-daughter married the owner's son a few years ago. From what I hear they used orchids extensively at the wedding. I guess that would be a no-brainer.
 

The "mini orchid" area

 It's just like a little slice of paradise in the chilly spring weather. And I was in HEAVEN! The hubby told me this would be my dream part-time job. I agree. If only it were closer to our house!

Just rows and rows of beauty!

The big one was my birthday gift from the sweet hubby, and the little one was given to the SMIL.

After the orchids we met up with the fam at Buca di Beppo for a nice dinner. This is totally our new spot. Olive Garden has been replaced.

Sisters!

 I really had a great day. Lots of antiques. Lots of flowers. Lots of laughs. Lots of food!

Birdy Birdy

Here is a new to us little metal birdy that I thought would look cute in our new house.

It is some kind of trinket or vanity box. The top is a little lid that lifts off. He is a white washed metal and most likely from the 1950's.

This week has been so busy. I was asked by the new landlord to go and get some ideas for the remodel of the new house. So we happily drove to Lowes today and took pictures and got samples together to present to him. I suppose I don't mind being an unpaid design consultant on a house that I will be living in soon..... Now, let's see if he actually uses the ideas I have. =)

Next week we have a family full of birthdays. Papa's birthday is the 25th, Little Misters is the 26th, and mine is the 28th! My sister's birthday is May 1st, not to mention Cousin Maggie's and Aunt Liz's have theirs next week as well! Oh, and cousin Holly's is May 1st also! Whew!

We have three birthday dinners and a concert all next week. Oh, and maybe a bit of packing? Maybe.

About 10 years ago I planted a pack of tulip bulbs around the tree in the front. The first year they came up like champs, and then every year since only two or three pop up. Usually the bunnies eat them, or people, (usually schoolkids) pick them on their way home from school.

Today was the first time ever I have gotten to pick one of my own tulips before someone or something got them first. Lucky me!

Birthday Etsy Sale

VintagebyVaughan is having a special BIRTHDAY sale until 4/29!

25% off anything/all items in the shop!

Yahoooooo!!!

Sexy Seniorita & Aqua Love

Thrifting finds of the day:

1950's Sexy Seniorita painting. Oil on canvas.

The busty brunette looked like a print to me when I first spotted her! But she is a old oil!

1950's/1960's Royal TURQUOISE Typewriter..Be still my heart...

And we surely couldn't pass up this fabulous typewriter. A bestie told me to stick it in my new kitchen. Nah....she'll be for sale. =)

Surprise, Excitement, & Letdown

We found this sweet little jam pot at the Salvation Army today.

With these ugly plastic bowls taped to the top. Apparently this is their way of selling things that would otherwise be not likely to sell, with something that would. Maybe...Sometimes I just don't get why they tape things together.

Anyway, I turned it over and to my SURPRISE it was marked Arabia. Yes! Score!

A quick check of ebay shows that they sell for $45.00-$55.00. Excited!

So I get the sweet jar home and rip the tape off during the pictures to reveal this cutie:

Awwww....

I take the lid off and BAM. Chip. BAM. There's a crack. UGGGHHHHHH..... They were there all along. Disguised under the taped plastic bowls.

Maybe somebody will want it for $9.99.....

Easter & Demo Delights

Happy Easter!

Yesterday we stopped by the new house to check out the demo, which is moving along at a hurry up and wait pace. Nothing new to us, except for the fact that this project is not being done by the military. Currently, the construction workers are working when they have "rain days" at their landscaping job, and during weekends. So far, they have demoed the bathroom (except for tub removal) and the kitchen. They have also removed the carpets/flooring in all of the rooms to reveal the hardwood floors underneath. And they will be beautiful!

Here is the neat wallpaper that was revealed during the bathroom demo. Quite bold for such a little space!

During our antiquing/thrifting this past week we stopped at an antique mall that was having a moving sale. We scored this fab square milk glass cake pedestal for 40% off!

The croc Easter basket is for Little Mister. The funky basket on the right was made with love by the sweet hubby for me! He took a Goodwill basket and the fabric from Hobby Lobby that I said I would like for new kitchen curtains, shredded it to make Easter grass, and then wrapped it around the handle and through the weave. Crafty bugger, he is!

Then, he filled it with sour candy and my recent obsession, Butterfingers.

 Note to all in the blogosphere: office shredders don't handle fabric well. Don't try to make Easter grass with them. (As retold by the sweet hubby) =) He's funny. I can just imagine him trying to feed the fabric into the shredder. Good idea, in theory!

Look at those CAMO eggs in the croc basket! That's how we roll around here now!

Help! I need some help!

We anticipate moving within the next 60 days. {GULP}

When you spend 11 years at one house and you love vintage stuff you tend to get collections going. Our current challenge is figuring out where everything will go.

In example: This cabinet full of pottery. It currently holds the TV.

And this is the future living room (before new paint/cleaning/etc):

Sooo...you could hang the TV over the fireplace? Maybe? Then how do you plug it in without the cords looking all out of place? And, I read recently in a decorator magazine that it is tacky to hang the TV over a fireplace because "it's not a work of art..." Oh dear.

{BTW, I fully intend on replacing the fireplace surround at my own cost, or removing it all together. The 90's gold look is not my style. Maybe a brushed nickel one?}

I can't think of any other setup than to have the couch facing the fireplace, but then what to do with the TV? I can't place that cabinet on the left wall over the only heating vent in the living room. And, I don't want to block the windows. Oh I don't know.... I guess I could live without the cabinet of pottery. But it still leaves the TV.

Anyway...this is why I collect vintage pottery....

 You can use it for your pretty bulbs!